Ned McGowan's War

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2 by Tiller's Folly

/

about

All songs, music & lyrics by Bruce Coughlan (SOCAN) except: The Ballad of John Rae by Bruce Coughlan & Jim Smith (SOCAN)
All tracks produced by Laurence Knight except: Laurence Knight & Steven Drake (15, 23) Joby Baker (4, 21, 24) Bruce Coughlan (6, 14, 20) Mastered & re-mastered by Joby Baker Thank-you to our families, friends and fans for all your support and inspiration!!
Thanks to everyone who contributed to our Kickstarter Stirring Up Ghosts initiative. Special thanks to Rob Armstrong, Katharine Barrett, Bob Chenoweth and the Lexvolds. Special thanks again to Dave & Paula Reed who’s initial contribution made this project possible.

lyrics

NED MCGOWAN'S WAR

Ned McGowan was a crooked judge from San Francisco way
As vigilantes purged the town, McGowan slipped away
To the goldfields of the Fraser where he quickly drew acclaim
With the wave of Forty-niners from Californ-i-ay
In the year of '58

As winter came, the gravel froze, so they couldn't pan for gold
Bravado mixed with whiskey, as they tried to beat the cold
Up pipes Ned McGowan "boys, are ya feeling very bold?
What say we all kick up a fuss and start ourselves a war?

If you lived to be a hundred
And you roamed the wide world over
You'd never live to see the likes of Ned McGowan's war

In the town of Yale that Christmas day
Two of McGowan's men
Pistol-whipped the barber and they snuck right back again
To Hill's Bar and Ned McGowan, and he tells them never fear,
For there Justice of the Peace has no jurisdiction here
And we'll turn him on his ear!"

When word came back to Hill's Bar
That their constable was gaoled
They deputized McGowan's men to bring him back from Yale
They stormed into the courtroom, took the Justice custody
Then they fined him fifty dollars and they went out on a spree

If you lived to be a hundred
And you roamed the wide world over
You'd never live to see the likes of Ned McGowan's War

The Justice wrote to Douglas, and appealed for relief
This shifty Ned McGowan, he's the cause of all our grief
He's a threat of annexation and if he is left alone
Of Californians he could raise an army of his own

With near two dozen Sappers came the Governor's reply
Fifty sailors & marines with a field piece close behind
And so a strange flotilla made way from Derby side
With a steamboat and a whaleboat, and a war canoe besides

If you lived to be a hundred
And you roamed the wide world over
You'd never live to see the likes of Ned McGowan's War

When Ned McGowan came to town
To the court he was arraigned
But they quickly dropped the charges as he craftily explained
The boys were sworn & deputize
When the Justice they'd detained
So court adjourned, and they all shook hands
And toasted with champagne

If you lived to be a hundred
And you roamed the wide world over
You'd never live to see the likes of Ned McGowan's war
You could sail the salt sea over
To the west, south, east and north
You'd never live to see the likes of Ned McGowan's war

credits

from Stirring Up Ghosts Vol 1&2, released June 1, 2015
Bruce Coughlan – vocals (all tracks) acoustic guitar (2, 4, 6, 8, 9, 11, 12, 14, 15, 16, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) wood flute (1, 5, 10, 13, 14) whistles (1, 5, 14, 20, 24)
Laurence Knight – electric bass (all tracks) vocals (7, 12, 16, 18, 19, 22, 23)
Nolan Murray – fiddle (5, 14, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, 21, 24) mandolin (4, 5, 6, 15, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24) 5-string banjo (5, 14, 22, 23)
Joby Baker – drums (4, 20, 21, 24) Whurlitzer piano (4) vocals (20)
Ian Cameron – fiddle (1, 11) mandolin (1)
Noel Chalmers – military drum (20)
Aaron Chapman – vocals (14)
John Cowan – vocals (15)
Doug Cox – dobro (21)
Jack Duncan – percussion (1)
Colleen Eccleston – vocals (21)
Bear Erickson – elec. guitar (20) vocals (20)
Geoff Eyre – drums (2, 8, 17)
Tatiana Hancheroff – vocals (17)
Daryl Havers – accordion (3)
Dave Keogh – vocals (14)
Larry Knechtel – Hammond (15)
Craig McGregor – acoustic guitar (7, 10, 13, 17) elec. guitar (3, 17) octave mandolin (8) mandolin (9)
Jim McWilliams – bagpipes (20)
Sandy Marshall – bagpipes (20)
Chris Nordquist – drums (14, 15, 19, 23)
Gord Maxwell – vocals (2, 3, 11, 18, 22)
Aiden O’Brien – uillean pipes & whistles (4) vocals (4)
Paul O’Brien – vocals (4)
Peter Padden – vocals (2)
Eric Reed – elec. guitar (23) mandolin (6, 16) vocals (16)
Phil Robertson – drums (5, 12, 18, 22)
Mike Sanyshyn – fiddle (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 17, 22) mandolin (8, 12, 22)
David Sinclair – elec. guitar (4)
Victor Smith – fiddle (9) whistles (3, 7, 8, 9, 10, 13) silver flute (17)
Shawn Soucy – drums (3, 9, 10, 13) percussion (8, 9, 10, 13)
Robbie Steininger – acoustic guitar (1, 5, 22) elec. guitar (18) dobro (18, 22)
Chris Stevens – 5-string banjo (7, 9, 12)
Ed Wagstaff – bagpipes (20)
Valdy – vocals (24)

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Bruce Coughlan image

Bruce Coughlan Maple Ridge, British Columbia

Pacific Canadian-based recording & performing artist, Bruce Coughlan has spent decades making Acoustic Roots Music Music of all descriptions. An expressive singer and rock-solid guitarist, Bruce is driven by one guiding principle: It's all about the Song. ... more

contact / help

Contact Bruce Coughlan

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Bruce Coughlan, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Featured guests are the golden-voiced Baby Rose and psyche soulsters Brainstory.
listen now